@CARLEYSCAMERA PINTEREST

It's hard to believe its almost been a year since I left behind my corporate advertising and PR job to launch my full-time freelance photography career. Things certainly haven’t been easy, and I probably work even harder, longer hours than I was before. But I absolutely love every minute of it, and that’s what makes all the difference. Not to mention, I’m much happier and healthier because I get to focus my energy on things I enjoy doing.

One thing I've made an effort to minimize in my life when I launched my own business is stress. Stress may be a fact of life, but there are definitely ways you can actively reduce it. As we head into the holidays and begin setting intentions for the new year, I wanted to share a few ways I cut back the stress in my life. I'm hoping this will inspire you to do the same :)

A good friend of mine recently introduced me to an amazing brand called Rescue, who makes all-natural, flower remedies that help balance the mind + body. It's ah-mazing! My go-to is the Rescue Pastilles. They're made from a unique blend of five different flowers and designed to help deal with stress immediately. I’m on the go a lot, so I always keep these in my carry-on bag when traveling. They’ve definitely come in handy!

Here’s a few other simple ways I fight stress:

Lavender essential oil - I’m obsessed with my diffuser I got on Amazon. Just a few drops of lavender oil turns my apartment into a calm, zen zone.

Happy Spritz’s Breathe Deeply Face Spray - I’m a sucker for a good face spritz and these guys make some of my favorites. When I feel hot and bothered, a quick spritz brings me back to life. Not to mention, they all smell great!

Meditation and spending time in nature - These go without saying, but I make a big effort to make both of them a part of my daily life. If you're looking to get started with meditation, I recommend listening to a guided meditation. It's a great way to learn until you feel comfortable doing it alone. And nature needs no explaining :)